What to Do After a Car Accident

Exactly what to do — and what to avoid — in the hours and days after a crash. The decisions you make in the first 48 hours shape the settlement you eventually receive. This guide is based on insurance industry data and standard plaintiff-attorney practice.

Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated May 15, 2026

Right now, if you can: photograph everything before vehicles move, and don’t say “I’m fine” to anyone. Both decisions are worth thousands of dollars in your eventual settlement.

The 10 Steps

1
Get to safety. Call 911 if anyone is hurt.
Move out of traffic if vehicles are drivable. Turn on hazards. Call 911 for any injury, even one that seems minor — the official report and EMS record are the most important documents in your future case. Adrenaline masks injuries; don't refuse evaluation.
2
Document everything before vehicles move.
Photos of all vehicles, license plates, damage, the road, debris, traffic signs, and skid marks. Wide shots and close-ups of every dent and crack. Photograph the other driver's license, registration, and insurance card directly — not transcribed. Take video of the scene. Time-stamped photos are evidence.
3
Get the police report number.
Most states require police response for any accident with injury or material damage. Get the responding officer's name, badge number, and report number. Order the report 3–10 days later (most departments have online portals). The report shapes early insurance liability decisions.
4
Exchange information — but don't admit fault.
Get the other driver's name, address, phone, license, insurance carrier, policy number, vehicle make/model/plate. Do not say "I'm sorry" or "I didn't see you." Anything resembling an admission becomes a comparative-fault argument. State facts only.
5
Get witness names BEFORE they leave.
Witness testimony evaporates within hours. Get name, phone, and email of any uninvolved witness. A neutral witness statement is often the single most valuable piece of evidence — adjusters discount the parties' own accounts.
6
See a doctor today — or tomorrow at the latest.
If you didn't go by ambulance, see your primary care or an urgent care within 24 hours. Soft-tissue injuries often emerge 24–72 hours later. Any gap in treatment becomes the insurer's argument that you weren't really hurt. Same-day medical = strong case.
7
Report to YOUR insurance — minimally.
Required by most policies within 24–72 hours. Stick to facts: time, location, vehicles, no injuries discussed yet. Do not give a recorded statement until you've consulted an attorney. Your insurer can sometimes use your statements against you in subrogation disputes.
8
Do NOT talk to the OTHER driver's insurance.
They will call within days. Politely decline to give a recorded statement. You are not obligated to talk to the at-fault driver's insurer. Refer them to your attorney (or say "I'm still being treated; I'll be in touch."). Recorded statements are the #1 way cases get killed.
9
Keep every document and receipt.
Medical bills, prescription receipts, mileage to/from appointments, lost wage records, property repair estimates, towing fees, rental car. Create a folder (digital or physical). Each document is potential damages. Track time off work with dates and pay rate.
10
Consult a personal injury attorney before settling.
Most do free consultations. Most cases benefit from representation — attorney-represented cases settle for 3.5× higher on average per Insurance Research Council data. Never sign a release or accept a first offer without legal review.

The 5 Mistakes That Wreck Your Settlement

✗ Saying "I'm fine" at the scene

Even a casual "I'm not hurt" gets quoted back at you when symptoms appear days later. Stick to "I want to be checked out."

✗ Skipping the doctor visit

Gaps in treatment = no injury, in adjuster math. Same-day evaluation is worth thousands.

✗ Posting on social media

Insurance companies investigate. A photo of you smiling at a barbecue gets used as evidence you're not in pain. Lock down privacy or take a break.

✗ Giving a recorded statement

Designed to lock you into a version of events. You have no obligation to give one to the other party's insurer.

✗ Accepting the first offer

First offers are 30–50% of fair value. The adjuster's software assumes you'll counter.

Know what your case is actually worth

Once you’ve documented the accident, see what the settlement should look like using your state’s rules and real data from 51,932 car-accident cases.

Car accident calculator →How much is my case worth?

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What to Do After a Car Accident

Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated May 15, 2026

Right now, if you can: photograph everything before vehicles move, and don’t say “I’m fine” to anyone. Both decisions are worth thousands of dollars in your eventual settlement.

The 10 Steps

1
Get to safety. Call 911 if anyone is hurt.
Move out of traffic if vehicles are drivable. Turn on hazards. Call 911 for any injury, even one that seems minor — the official report and EMS record are the most important documents in your future case. Adrenaline masks injuries; don't refuse evaluation.
2
Document everything before vehicles move.
Photos of all vehicles, license plates, damage, the road, debris, traffic signs, and skid marks. Wide shots and close-ups of every dent and crack. Photograph the other driver's license, registration, and insurance card directly — not transcribed. Take video of the scene. Time-stamped photos are evidence.
3
Get the police report number.
Most states require police response for any accident with injury or material damage. Get the responding officer's name, badge number, and report number. Order the report 3–10 days later (most departments have online portals). The report shapes early insurance liability decisions.
4
Exchange information — but don't admit fault.
Get the other driver's name, address, phone, license, insurance carrier, policy number, vehicle make/model/plate. Do not say "I'm sorry" or "I didn't see you." Anything resembling an admission becomes a comparative-fault argument. State facts only.
5
Get witness names BEFORE they leave.
Witness testimony evaporates within hours. Get name, phone, and email of any uninvolved witness. A neutral witness statement is often the single most valuable piece of evidence — adjusters discount the parties' own accounts.
6
See a doctor today — or tomorrow at the latest.
If you didn't go by ambulance, see your primary care or an urgent care within 24 hours. Soft-tissue injuries often emerge 24–72 hours later. Any gap in treatment becomes the insurer's argument that you weren't really hurt. Same-day medical = strong case.
7
Report to YOUR insurance — minimally.
Required by most policies within 24–72 hours. Stick to facts: time, location, vehicles, no injuries discussed yet. Do not give a recorded statement until you've consulted an attorney. Your insurer can sometimes use your statements against you in subrogation disputes.
8
Do NOT talk to the OTHER driver's insurance.
They will call within days. Politely decline to give a recorded statement. You are not obligated to talk to the at-fault driver's insurer. Refer them to your attorney (or say "I'm still being treated; I'll be in touch."). Recorded statements are the #1 way cases get killed.
9
Keep every document and receipt.
Medical bills, prescription receipts, mileage to/from appointments, lost wage records, property repair estimates, towing fees, rental car. Create a folder (digital or physical). Each document is potential damages. Track time off work with dates and pay rate.
10
Consult a personal injury attorney before settling.
Most do free consultations. Most cases benefit from representation — attorney-represented cases settle for 3.5× higher on average per Insurance Research Council data. Never sign a release or accept a first offer without legal review.